Major Categories of Restaurants

There are numerous opportunities to work in or even establish your own restaurant.

Main article: Fast-food restaurant [http://en.wikipedia.org, accesed 07/08]

Fast-food restaurants

Fast-food restaurants emphasize speed of service and low cost over all other considerations. A common feature of newer fast-food restaurants that distinguishes them from traditional cafeteria is a lack of cutlery or crockery; the customer is expected to eat the food directly from the disposable container it was served in.

In the United States, fast-food restaurants have become so widespread that the traditional standard type is now sometimes referred to as a sit-down restaurant. Despite this terminology, most fast-food restaurants offer some form of seating for diners to eat on-site, albeit in a utilitarian atmosphere.

Most fast-food restaurants offer take away: ready-to-eat hot food in disposable packaging for the customer to eat off-site.

Fast casual-dining restaurants

Average prices charged are higher than fast-food prices and non-disposable plates and cutlery are sometimes offered. This category is a growing concept that fills the space between fast food and casual dining.

Counter service accompanied by handmade food (often visible via an open kitchen) is typical. The menu is usually limited to an extended over-counter display, and options in the way the food is prepared are emphasized. Many fast casual-dining restaurants are marketed as health-conscious: healthful items may have a larger than normal portion of the menu and high-quality ingredients such as free-range chicken and freshly made salsas may be advertised. Overall, the quality of the food is presented as much higher than conventional factory-made fast food. An obvious ethnic theme may or may not be present in the menu.

Family style

Family style restaurants are restaurants that have a fixed menu and fixed price, usually with diners seated at a communal table such as on bench seats. More common in the 19th and early 20th century, they can still be found in rural communities, or as theme restaurants, or in vacation lodges. There is no menu to choose from, rather food is brought out in courses, usually with communal serving dishes, like at a family meal.

A more modern execution of this is big plates of food being delivered to the table and as above everyone helps themselves to as much or as little as they want.

Family style restaurants often have a limited bar, serving a few brands of beer and several types of generic types of wine.

Casual dining

A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere. Except for buffet-style restaurants, casual dining restaurants typically provide table service. Casual dining comprises a market segment between fast food establishments and fine dining restaurants.

Casual dining restaurants usually have a full bar with separate bar staff, a larger beer menu and a limited wine menu.

Fine dining

Fine dining restaurants are full service restaurants with specific dedicated meal courses. Décor of such restaurants feature higher quality materials with an eye towards the "atmosphere" desired by the restaurateur. The wait staff is usually highly trained and often wears more formal attire, while kitchen staffare more formally trained, usually with a more traditional hierarchical staffing structure. The menu generally features higher quality ingredients with more elaborate preparation. Orders are individually prepared with attention to detail and presented on the plate with artistry.

Fine dining restaurants usually have a full bar with separate bar staff. Many fine dining establishments will have a full wine list created and chosen by dedicated sommelier.

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